In January, 2019, the new facts of human rights violations were identified in certain districts of
Luhansk and Donetsk regions, controlled by the armed groups of so-called “LPR” and “DPR”: illegal
detentions, restrictions of freedom of movement of civilians, involvement of schoolchildren into the
events with propagandistic aims, development of parallel legal system and violation of property
rights. Unfortunately, all these human rights violations have become a “norm” for residents of the
territories of so-called “people’s republics”.
1. Illegal arrests, detentions and restriction of freedom of movement
Press-service of the so-called “Ministry of internal affairs of Donetsk people’s republic (MIA of DPR):
more than 50 “operational-preventive operation “Night City”” were organized since the beginning of
2018. About 34000 people were detained for violating the curfew during i 2018.
From January 12 to 14, 2019, 330 people were detained by the police for violating the curfew
during the “Night City” “operational-preventive operation”, and 320 people were detained from
January 18 to January 20, 2019.
On January 8, 2019, it was reported by Radio Liberty that Dmitry Avtonomov was arrested in the
occupied part of the Donetsk region, controlled by the occupation administration of the Russian
Federation. This person is one of the confidance of Alexander Timofeev, ex-”Minister of Income and
Fees” (“Tashkent”), who had escaped to Russia. It was reported by the occupation administrations
of the Russian Federation’s media, that the businessman Avtonomov and about 10 directors of his
enterprises were detained without charges on December 28, 2018.

2.
Development
of parallel legal
system, advocacy,
notary, courts

On January 10, 2019, the “Media Initiative for Human Rights” reported about the disappearance
of Elena Sorokina, owner of a pet grocery store in the city of Pervomaysk, Luhansk region.
Elena disappeared on October 30, 2018. Later, it was discovered that she was captured by the
representatives of the so-called “Ministry of State Security of Luhansk People’s Republic (MGB of
LPR)”.
2. Development of parallel legal system, advocacy, notary, courts
Russian occupation administrations and controlled media continue to inform local residents of the
occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the world public, about the “state bodies”
activities and the results of such “work”. It should be noted that this activity has no legal basis and
the main aim is to demonstrate the so-called “sovereignty” of the “republics”.
On January 4, 2019, the press service of the so-called “Ministry of Justice of DPR” reported that 25
lawyers got certificates of the right to practice law in the territory of DPR in 2018.
On January 21, 2019, the law “On Amendments to Article 2 of the Law of Luhansk People’s Republic
“On anti-corruption expertise of legal acts and draft laws” and the law “On documents of civil
statuses” were adopted by the “MPs” of the so-called People’s Council of LPR. On the same day the
law “On seed farming” was adopted.
3. Violation of property rights
In January, 2019, the process of so-called “nationalization” of enterprises that had previously
operated under the jurisdiction of Ukraine or belonged to the citizens of Ukraine, who live in the

territory controlled by Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, continued on the occupied areas
of Luhansk and Donetsk regions under the control of Russian occupation administration. The process
of “searching for the owners” is widespread.
A few months ago, the decline of the “search of owners of “ownerless property” became noticeable.
The sale announcements about the “ownerless property” started to appear on the web-site of the
so-called “State Revenue Committee of LPR”.
Thus, in January 2019, 8 announcements on the sale of various movable and immovable property,
namely, household appliances, ATMs, cars, spare car parts, railroad platforms, etc. were posted by the
so-called “State Revenue Committee of LPR”.
4. Religious Freedom Violations
On January 5, 2019, it was reported by the press service of the so-called “Supreme Court of DPR”
that 6 organizations, 49 publications and books were banned as extremist on the territory of DPR
since 2016.
At the end of December 2018, it was reported on the website of the Jehovah’s Witnesses religious
organization that on November 30, 2018, a 22-year-old man was arrested in Luhansk. He was
subjected to searches and beatings because he had a business card of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.